Device for pouring predetermined servings of liquid



JQE. MOPHEE.

May 18, 1954 DEVICE FOR POURING PREDETERMINED SERVINGS OF LIQUID Filed May 10, 1952 INVENTOR. 2/4/1155 5 Map/IE5 BY fit/array Patented May 18, 1954 attain DEVICE FOR EOURING .PBEDETERMINED SEEVINGS OF LIQUID .lames Ernest Mclhce, Culver City, Calif.

Application May 10, 1952,

5 Claims i This invention relates to dispensing devices for pouring predetermined quantities or servings of liquid from containers such as bottles.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple structural arrangement to prevent any inaccuracy in the dispensing operation that might arise from the formation of a liquid meniscus. Such a dispensing device includes an air tube for counterflow of air from the atmosphere into the bottle when the bottle is tipped to pour a serving of the liquid and there is a tendency for residual liquid in the air tube to form a meniscus that cuts oii the flow of air through the tube. 1 have found that such blockage by a liquid meniscus inside the air tube occurs at the outer end of the air tube and I have further discovered that such blocking can be prevented by simply mounting a suitable transverse element across the inner end of the air tube. In the operation of liquid meniscus in the air tube seeks the inner end of the air tube when the device is tipped to pouring position and there the liquid meniscus is diverted to one side by the transverse element, leaving the space on the other side of the transverse member free for the passage of air into and through the air tube.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction for a dispensing device of this type that makes the device extremely economical to manufacture. The structure of the device is necessarily relatively complex as required by the particular automatic measuring operation that it performs and the structure includes a relatively large number of cooperating elements that have heretofore been separately fabricated. The invention reduces the total number of parts to a bare minimum and reduces the labor of fabrication and assembly by at least half.

A further object of the invention is to reduce the structure to a minimum number of one-piece assembly members that are adapted for frictional engagement with each other each of said members combining several of the cooperating elements of the device. Thus assembly labor is reduced to the simple procedure of bringing together complementary parts that are dimensioned for forced fit one with another.

A special feature of the invention is incorporation of the meniscus diverting element in a structural member that is separate from the air tube but is dimensioned to receive the air tube with a forced lit with the meniscus element serving as a stop for the tube in the assembly procedure. By virtue of this arrangement it is the invention, any

Serial No. 287,114

necessary merely to out the air tube to length from tubular stock and to force the out tube into place against th meniscus diverting element.

The various objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent in the following detailed description, considered with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, which are to be regarded as merely illustrative,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device as mounted on a bottle in pouring position;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a onepiece multiple-element member that provides part of the structure of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken as indi cated by the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a second one-piece multiple element member included in the structure of the device.

The principal parts of the dispensing device shown in th figures include the following: a dispensing chamber Ill having a vent tube H and a pouring tube l2 which is extended by a pouring spout 13; a neck tube l5 which supports the dispensing chamber and is embraced by a resilient sleeve 16 to fit into the mouth of a bottle ii; an air tube as that extends through the neck tube into the dispensing chamber, the lower or outer end of the air tube being pinched or flattened as indicated at 2! for restricted flow; a meniscus diverting element 25 positioned across the inner end of the air tube; and a siphon tube 2% that communicates with the inner end of the air tube 20.

The siphon tube 25 surrounds the pouring tube 52 to provide an automatic siphon in which the down-leg is the pouring tube and the up-leg is the annular space between the pouring tube and the surrounding siphon tube. The neck tube it has a transverse end wall 2! across its inner end and has an opening 28 in its side near the end wall to provide communication between the neck tube and the interior of the dispensing chamber. The neck tube is is also formed with a suitable hood or guard 3%) at the side opening 23 to serve as a baiiie to divert flowing liquid away from the inner end of the vent tube i l.

When the bottle i? with the mounted in the manner shown is tipped to pourting position as indicated in Fig. 2, liquid from the bottle passes through the neck tube and the dispensing device pouring tube.

opening 28 into the dispensing chamber in and liquid in the dispensing chamber rises toward the inner end of the pouring tube I 2. Air to replace the liquid poured out of the bottle enters the dispensing chamber through the vent tube II and also enters the dispensing chamber through the pouring spout 1-3. When the liquid level rises to the edge of the siphon tube 25 sur rounding the pouring tube [2, communication between the vent tube I I and the air space in 1 the tipped bottle is cut off and thereafter air enters through the pouring spout l3 alone.

When the liquid pouring into the dispensing chamber it rises above the level of the inner end of the pouring tube [2, the two legs of a siphon I are completed or automatic siphon flow and siphon action is initiated with the liquid flowing upward through the siphon tube 26 around the pouring tube 2 and then downward through the This dispensing flow through the pouring tube (2 continues until the liquid level siphon tube 26 whereupon siphon flow ceases level in the tipped dispensing chamber rises to repeat the siphon cycle.

The restriction of the outer end of the air tube 20, created by pinching the end of the air tube as shown, minimizes the amount of liquid. that enters the air tube. Liquid unavoidably enters the air tube but the transverse element across the inner end of the air tube prevents any blockage by liquid that would prevent one pouring cycle from following the previous pouring cycle without prolonged time delay and without change in the quantity of liquid dispensed in the second pouring cycle.

There is reason to believe that any liquid entering the restricted outer end of the air tube 20 that would ordinarily tend to block air flow side of the element 25 with the other sideof the element providing a clear space for free air flow from the pouring spout through the air tube into the air space in the tipped bottle.

Preferably the meniscus diverting element 25 is positioned to divide the inner end of the air tube 20 into two unequal portions. Thus, as may be seen in Fig. 2, the element 25 is positioned off center with respect 20, the element being positioned above the axis to provide a relatively large space below the element to receive a liquid meniscus when the device is tipped to pouring position and to provide a smaller space above the element for the free flow of air into the air tube.

In the preferred practice of the invention the parts to be separately fabricated for assembly comprise three cast or molded multiple element members in addition to the pouring tube l2 and the air tube 28.

The first molded or cast multiple element member, generally designated 35, forms the upper part of the dispensing chamber I ll when the dispenser is in its upright or nondispensing position and includes as elements both the vent tube H and the pouring spout 3. The inner end of the pouring spout I3 is enlarged to form a seat 36 which is dimensioned to receive the pouring tube 2 with a forced fit.

The second multiple element cast or molded member is generally designated 40 and is best shown in Fig. 3. The second or lower member 40 mates with the first member 35 to complete the dispensing chamber In and is formed with a to the axis of the air tube neck which constitutes a portion of the previously mentioned neck tube IS. The neck 4| is enlarged internally to form an annular seat 42 to receive the third member with a forced fit as will be explained. Preferably the second member 48 is also suitably formed to engage an intermediate portion of the air tube 20 thereby to serve as holding means to retain the air tube in assembled position. For this purpose, the second member 4?) may be formed, for example, with an inner sleeve l4 dimensioned to embrace the air tube 23 in a suitably snug manner.

The third cast or molded multiple element member, generally designated 50 in the drawis best shown in Fig. 5. The member 50 mentioned annular seat 42 of the second member 46. Above the base portion 5| the third member 56 provides a circular wall 52 together with the end wall 21 and hood 30 which combined with the second member 40 complete the neck tube l5 of the device. Integral with the end wall 21 and the hood 30 is a restricted tubular portion 53 of the third member 56 which is dimensioned to embrace the end of the air tube 20 with a forced fit. The previously mentioned siphon tube 26 is integral with the tubular portion 53 and both are integral with the transverse meniscus diverting element 25.

The manner in which the device may be manufactured and assembled will be readily apparent from the foregoing description. In preparation for assembly a supply of pouring tubes 12 are cut to length from stock tubing and a supply of air tubes 2!! is provided by cutting lengths of smaller tubing to size and pinching the ends as indicated at 2!. The three multiple element members 35. 4t] and 55 are cast or molded, preferably being die cast and pouring tube I2 is mounted in the seat 36 in member 35. Member is assembled to member 40 by forcing its base portion 5| into the annular seat 42. The vent tube 29 is then passed through the inner i sleeve 44 of member 40 and is forced into the restricted tubular portion 53 of member 50, the

air tube being forced home against the transverse meniscus diverting element 25. The first member 35 is then bonded to the second member with the pouring tube l2 extending into the siphon tube 26 as shown. The resilient sleeve i6 is then mounted on the neck 4| to complete the assembly.

My description herein of the presently preferred practice of the invention will suggest to those skilled in the art various changes, substitutions and other departures from my disclosure that may be made within the scope and spirit of my appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A liquid dispenser of the character described for use on a bottle, said dispenser having: a dispensing chamber; a tube connected with said chamber and adapted to seat in a sealed manner in the mouth of the bottle both to support the chamber and to provide a passage for flow of liquid from the bottle into the chamber when the bottle is tipped; a pouring tube mounted in said chamber for discharge flow therefrom, the inner end of said tube extending inward to the interior of the chamber; a vent tube mounted in said chamber for communication with the atmosphere, the inner end of said tube extending to a point above the inner end of said pouring tube when the chamber is tipped into pouring position; an air tube extending through said neck tube for passage of air from said chamber into the bottle when the bottle is tipped, the outer end of said air tube having a restricted opening to minimize the entrance of liquid from the bottle; a continuous wall inside said chamber connected with the inner end of said air tube circumferentially thereof, said wall enclosing the inner portion of said pouring tube to cooperate therewith to form a pouring siphon; element mounted on said continuous wall end extending across the inner end of said air tube to divert any liquid meniscus at the entrance of the air tube to one side to avoid blocking air flow through the air tube.

2. A liquid dispenser as set forth in claim 1 in which said element abuts the inner end of said air tube and divides the entrance of said air tube into two unequal portions, the larger portion being the lower portion when the liquid dispenser is tipped to its pouring position.

3. In a liquid dispenser of the character described, the combination of an upper shell member, a lower shell member adapted to be bonded to said upper shell member to form a dispensing chamber, a tubular extension carried by said lower shell member to serve as a neck tube, and an integral siphon tube member having a portion extending into the upper shell member and an opposite portion thereof extending through the lower shell member and into the said tubular extension to hold said siphon tube member in assembled position in said tubular extension, and an air tube extending through said neck tube into said siphon member, a web member positioned across the end of said air tube, said end being that end extending into the said siphon tube member.

i. In a liquid dispenser of the character de scribed, the combination of an upper shell member, a lower shell member adapted to be bonded to said upper shell member to form a dispensing chamber, a tubular extension carried by said lower shell member to serve as a neck tube, and an integral siphon tube member having a porand an tion thereof extending through the lower shell member and into the said tubular extension to hold said siphon tube member in assembled position in said tubular extension, and an air tube extending through said neck tube into said siphon member, a web member positioned across the end of said air tube, said end being that end extending into the said siphon tube member, said web being a thin piece of metal whose length is substantially equal to the internal diameter of said air tube and whose thickness is substantially less than the diameter of said air tube.

5. in a liquid dispenser of the character described, the combination of an upper shell member, a lower shell member adapted to be bonded to said upper shell member to form a dispensing chamber, a tubular extension carried by said lower shell member to serve as a neck tube, and an integral siphon tube member having a portion thereof extending through the lower shell memoer and into the said tubular extension to hold said siphon tube member in assembled position in said tubular extension, and an air tube extending through said neck tube into said siphon member, a web member positioned across the end of said air tube, said end being that end extending into the said siphon tube member, said, web being a thin piece of metal whose length is substantially equal to the internal diameter of said air tube and whose thickness is substantially less than the diameter of said air tube, said web being positioned off center from the central axis of said air tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

